Boston Midsummer Opera Presents THE BARTERED BRIDE, Now thru 7/27

Hidden identities, secret bargains and a dancing bear...can love possibly find its way? All will be revealed when Boston Midsummer Opera (BMO) presents its ninth season production, The Bartered Bride. Bedich Smetana's comic masterpiece - with its infectious tunes, rollicking ensembles and inventive humor which have long made it an audience favorite - will be fully staged and costumed and presented at the Tsai Performance Center, Boston University for three performances only, today, July 23, and July 25 and 27.

Director Antonio Ocampo-Guzman returns and nationally acclaimed conductor Susan Davenny Wyner will lead the BMO orchestra. The opera will be sung in English in a new translation by J. D. McClatchy, used by arrangement with the Metropolitan Opera.

Set in a Bohemian village, The Bartered Bride is about a young couple's scheme to prevent their parents from splitting them up. Marenka, who is in love with Jenik has been betrothed against her wishes to Vasek, the son of Micha, a wealthy local landlord. Unknown to everyone but himself, Jenik is Micha's long-lost eldest son. Jenik shrewdly persuades the marriage broker, Kecal, to state that Marenka should be married to the eldest son of Micha. When it is revealed that it is none other than Jenik, all ends happily.

The cast of singers, chorus and dancers will feature acclaimed tenor Eric Barry (Jenik); American buffo bass Jason Budd (Kecal); tenor Ethan Bremer (Vasek); soprano Nicole Percifield (Marenka); and bass-baritone Eric Downs (Krusina). Rounding out the cast are Teresa Eickel, David Lara, Christina English, Lindsay Conrad, and Sean Lair.

Young dancers from the Central Mass Dance Academy of Worcester will also be featured, with choreography provided by faculty members Kellie Shea and Laura Lobo. This inner city performing arts school is noted for its high quality training in theater as well as dance.

The design team includes Stephen Dobay, (sets), John Cuff, (lighting), and Elisabetta Polito (costumes).

Founded in 2006, Boston Midsummer Opera creates vibrant experiences designed to ward off the summer doldrums. Sung in English and imaginatively staged, BMO makes opera both accessible and affordable by mounting dynamic productions with nationally and internationally known artists that will attract new listeners as well as appeal to discriminating opera fans.

Performances of The Bartered Bride are Wednesday, July 23, and Friday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 27 at 3:00 p.m. at the Tsai Performance Center at Boston University, 685 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. A pre-concert lecture by Richard Dyer will take place one hour before performance time.

Tickets, priced at $60.00 to $40.00 (plus a $5.00 handling fee per ticket order) for all performances, are available, online at www.bostonmidsummeropera.org, by calling 617-227-0442, or by mailing a request to Boston Midsummer Opera, Box 513, 66 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114. For more information, visit www.bostonmidsummeropera.org.

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